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What determines whether you'll go to heaven or hell?
pastor corner

Destiny can be defined as the inevitable or necessary succession of events.

When one studies the word of God, it is seen that destiny is a fact that every person faces. It teaches of two places, heaven and hell. One of these will be a person’s place of eternal destiny when this life is over.

God prepared hell for the devil and his angels, but sinful man will find himself there if he does not obey God (Matthew 25:41). God has also prepared heaven (John 14:1-6, Revelation 21).

Of the two places, heaven is where God wants all to be.

Just who determines our destiny? God made man a free moral agent.

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

God provided the only sacrifice for sins, Christ. He has provided all that pertains to life and godliness (John 3:16, Hebrews 10:10, 2 Peter 1:3). It is up to us as individuals to either obey God or reject him.

"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9).

When heaven and hell are compared, it is unbelievable that some live such lives of sin.

Heaven is described as a place of rest, no sorrow or crying, a place of joy, living with Christ throughout all eternity (Matthew 25:46, Revelation 14:13, Revelation 21:4, Matthew 25:23, John 14:13).

Knowing the things men suffer in life and the glories of heaven that await, who would not want to go to heaven? Hell is pictured as a place of weeping with no rest, everlasting fire without Christ, and a place of anguish (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 14:11, Matthew 25:30, John 8:21). Who would actively seek this place as an eternal home?

The sad fact is that many are living lives that are going to lead to their destruction (Matthew 7:13, 14). They refuse to obey the gospel, which is the way of salvation (Romans 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 8). Paul wrote that the gospel saves (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Some men believe their teaching is greater than God’s, but it is not (Matthew 15:9).

Should not it be God who decides the requirements of admission to his kingdom? He provided the way, the light and the sacrifice — Christ (John 14:6, John 1:4-5, Hebrews 10:10).

God’s plan of salvation as told in the New Testament is given in his word. Hear (Romans 10:17), believe (Hebrews 11:6), repent (Acts 17:30), confess (Romans 10:9, 10), get baptized (Acts 2:38) and live a faithful Life (Revelations 2:10).

Obedience or non-obedience to God’s word will settle one’s destiny. So who determines our eternal destiny? Each person does. Where will your eternal destiny be?

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